Locals participate in Buckeye Girls State

The 70th-annual American Legion Buckeye Girls State was held on the campus of the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, June 12-18.

There were nearly 900 young ladies from across the state of Ohio. They had a week filled with campaigning, elections and running their city, county or state governments. They have shared in actively participating in BGS government activities and gained many new friendships.

Buckeye Girls State is designed to educate Ohio’s young women in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of good citizenship. By getting involved in the process, delegates learn more about city, county or state government in one week than they will learn in an entire semester of high school.

Locally there were four young ladies (delegates) from the Fayette County area who attended this program. They were sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary Unit #25, Paul H. Hughey American Legion Post #25.

Attending from Miami Trace High School were Gretchen Rife and Clare Sollars. Gretchen served as the municipal court bailiff from Kaptur City.

Clare Sollars was elected the Nationalists State Party chair, in which she led the primaries and the state party rally. Her responsibilities as the state chair included developing the party platform and organizing the slate of candidates running for office. After the general election, Clare was appointed to the governor’s office to serve as the deputy chief of staff for Junge City. She wrote speeches for the lieutenant governor and met with members of Congress on the governor’s behalf. Her favorite part of Buckeye Girls State was meeting young women from all around Ohio who are interested in government.

Attending from Washington High School were Susanna Eckstein and Anna Nestor. Susanna served as a municipal court judge for Kapture City. Her experience at BGS was life-changing. She learned that there are multiple ways to serve her country/state as a public servant. She was inspired to work hard to achieve her goals while at BGS. Susanna says it is an experience of a lifetime.

Anna Nestor was a State Highway Patrol trooper for Hobart City. She was one of 19 chosen for the Highway Patrol. She got to experience the ups and downs of the dedication the job requires. She saw K-9s, sat on the trooper’s motorcycle and sat in the helicopter. The troopers arrested fellow attendees. Anna says it was awesome seeing girls from all over Ohio growing as one and striving to be the best.

Buckeye Girls State is open to all young women who are in their junior year of high school.